Graphite-feeding lubricator.



w. e. THOMPSON; GRAPHITE FEEDING LUBRICATORi APPLICATION FILED vFEB-1'3. ISHB.

Patented May 7,1918.

INVENTOR W ATTORNEY rinirnn srafrns rerun WILLIAM G. THOMPSON, O15NEWARK, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNITED STATES GRAPHITE COMPANY, OFSAGrINAW, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. February 13, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. THoMP- son, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Newark, in the county of Licking and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Graphite-FeedingLubricators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in.the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to lubricators and pertains more particularly tolubricators adapted to feed powdered graphite to steam cylinders.

The improvement relates more particularly to a novel construction of theparts of a graphite-feeding lubricator, whereby graphite will beautomatically fed at a pre determined rate from the lubricator into thecylinder while the cylinder is under steam pressure, but when thecylinder is not under steam pressure the lubricator will automaticallyshut off the feed of graphite to the cylinder.

In general construction and mode of operation my improved deviceresembles that shown in Patent No. 1,204,145, issued to John W. EvistonNovember 5, 1916. My improvement, however, accomplishes a differentresult from that accomplished by the patented device referred to, inthat my improved lubricator will feed graphite to the cylinder whileunder steam pressure, but will automatically shut off the supply ofgraphite when the cylinder is not under steam pressure.

With the above and certain other objects, which will appear later in thespecification, my invention comprises the devices described and claimedand the equivalents thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a central sectional view of a lubricatorembodying my improvement.

Fig. 2 is. an enlarged sectional detail of the standard-orifice plugvalve and valve seat.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged diagrammatic view of the opening in the bottom ofthe graphite receptacle.

As is clearly shown in the drawings, the device consists in the graphitereceptacle 1 formed with an opening 2 in its bottom. A threaded boss 3,carried by the receptacle is Patented ltlay F, 191$.

Serial No. 216,885.

formed at its lower end with a recess 4 communicating with the opening2. In this recess 4- isa ball 5, preferably of smaller diameter than therecess l, capable of free vertical movement.

A slot 6 extending along the side wall of the opening 2 communicates therecess 4- with the interim of the receptacle 1, so that when the ball 5is at the top of the recess it will not close the slot 6 andconsequently the steam pressure will be equalized between the steamcylinder to which the threaded boss 3 is attached and the interior ofthe receptacle 1.

With the pulsating changes in steam pres sure the ball 5 will rise andfall and graphite will be fed down through the opening 2 past the halland recess 4: and through a standard. orifice 7 formed in a screw plug8. The plug is externally threaded and is screwed into the recess l, theupper end of the plug being shaped to form a valve seat 9, upon whichthe ball 5 will rest when there is no steam pressure in the cylinder.

From the foregoing, it will. be seen that when the receptacle 1 containsgraphite and the cylinder is put under steam pressure the pressure willbe equalized between the receptacle 1 and the steam cylinder by means ofthe slot (5, so that a normal flow of graphite will take place into thecylinder, the amount of flow being determined by the size of thestandard orifice 7 in the screw plug 8.

When there is no steam pressure in the engine cylinder the ball 5 dropsto the seat 9, closing the orifice 7, preventing further feeding ofgraphite to the cylinder.

If the lubricator is applied to the steam cylinder of a locomotive therewill be auto matically supplied to the steam cylinder at predeterminedquantity of graphite for each mile run by the engine, but when thethrottle is closed and the locomotive drifts the ball 5 willautomatically stop the feeding of graphite to the cylinder.

While I have referred to the lubricator as being applied to the cylinderof a locomo tive, it will be understood that it may be equally Well usedon any other type of steam cylinder or steam engine.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

In a lubricator, a receptacle adapted to contain powdered graphite, saidreceptacle formed with a threaded boss adapted to be connected to thecylinder of a steam engine, a recess formed in said boss, an openingtherein communicating said recess and receptacle, the Wall of saidopening formed With a longitudinal slot, connecting said recess andreceptacle, a ball, a plug formed with a longitudinal orifice andreceived in said recess, the upper end of said plug 10 formed with avalve seat to receive said ball, for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signa ture.

WILLIAM G. THOMPSON.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Goinmissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C.

